WHEN Neil Jenkins takes the field for Wales for the final time this afternoon, his thoughts will turn to a spot of advice his father gave him more than a decade ago.

"I always remember my old man saying, 'Don't blink, or you will miss it' - and he was dead right," he said.

"It only seems like yesterday that I was starting out as a youngster trying to get as far as I could in my career.

"Things do go very quickly."

In fact, Jenkins' international career began more than 12 years ago when he made his Wales debut against England in January 1991.

That was to be the start of one of the most remarkable Test adventures of modern times.

Along the way, the boy from Church Village has broken just about every record going.

He has won more caps than any other Welshmen - 87 - and holds the world record for Test points with 1,090.

Now his incredible journey is about to come to an end as he prepares to make his 100th - a tally reached by adding in tour and non-cap games - and last appearance in a Welsh jersey against the Barbarians.

"I have been very lucky," said the 31-year-old. "If anyone had offered me what I have achieved in my career, I would have ripped their hand off.

"If they had said you will win 80-odd caps and play 100 times in all for your country, I'd have said, 'Thank you very much' and taken it."

So what have been the highlights for Jenkins during his international career?

"The wins over England do stick in the mind - the one in Cardiff in 1993, and 1999 at Wembley," he said.

"There was the championship win in 1994 as well, and representing the Lions was something special.

"I've had a great career and I don't regret anything. I've really enjoyed it."

Jenkins decided to listen to his body and retire from Test rugby after finding out he wouldn't be going on Wales' summer tour of Australia and New Zealand.

"When I bust my thumb in January, that was pretty much it," said the Pontypridd fly-half.

"Before that, I felt I was getting back to the player I was a couple of years ago.

"But I was out for seven weeks with my thumb and then I tore my calf.

"I went down to get my Wales training programme last month and, to be honest, I didn't really want to get it.

"I had a chat with Steve Hansen and he said he wouldn't be picking me for the summer tour. I said that was fine because I'd had enough.

"The last two years have been difficult, because I've been injured more than I've been on the pitch.

"My body is in a bit of a mess and it was time to get out.

"Since I made the decision, I've enjoyed my rugby more than I have for a while.

"It's like the world has been taken off my shoulders.

"It's one less thing to worry about and I've been more relaxed playing."

However, Jenkins was happy to accept the offer from Wales coach Hansen to have one last hurrah against the Baa-Baas.

He will start among the replacements and then come on at some stage to receive the send-off he deserves.

"I'm grateful to Steve and the rest of the guys, because I didn't want to be stuck on 99 games," he said.

"It's a nice gesture by them. It's a great opportunity to play my 100th match and it's something I am really looking forward to. Hopefully things will go well for me and the team.

"Representing your country is a huge high. When you get those three feathers on your chest it's pretty special.

"It will be nice to pull on the Welsh shirt one more time in front of the Millennium Stadium crowd. There's no better way to go out. It will be very emotional for me."

But it won't quite be the end of the road for Jenkins, who will play out one more season, with the new Bridgend-Pontypridd side, before hanging up his boots for good.

"I've got enough in the tank for one more year," he said. "I can look forward to it as it's going to be something totally different.

"I'll look to have one big last season and then see what happens after that. I would like to put something back into the game, perhaps as a kicking coach."

Jenkins will be joined on the bench today by two uncapped players in Gareth Delve and Michael Phillips,

So, finally, what advice would the 'Ginger Monster' give to these young men starting out on their international careers?

"Just enjoy it and make the most of it," he said. "Before you know it, your career is over."